UPSC Mains Syllabus, UPSC CSE Mains Syllabus For IAS Exam

UPSC Mains Syllabus

UPSC Mains Syllabus: The UPSC Mains Syllabus is very vast and need to be understood by the UPSC aspirants before starting the UPSC Mains Preparation. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s premier central recruiting agency responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination. The examination is a multi-stage process that comprises the Preliminary Examination (Prelims), Main Examination (Mains), and the Personality Test (Interview).

Among these, the UPSC Mains holds paramount importance as it assesses the in-depth knowledge, analytical skills, and overall understanding of candidates on a wide range of subjects. In this article, we will decode the UPSC Mains syllabus to provide a comprehensive guide for aspirants.

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2023 Overview

If you’re preparing up for the UPSC examination, it’s crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of both the preliminary and mains syllabus. In this article, we’ll focus on the Mains Examination Syllabus. Find a detailed overview of the UPSC Mains examination in the table below.

UPSC Mains Syllabus Overview
Particular	Details
Category	Mains Syllabus
Exam Date	15th to 19th September 2023
Number of Papers	Nine
Types of Paper	Conventional Papers (Descriptive Type)
Duration of Exam	3 hours Each Paper
Total Marks	1750
Language of Exam	English & Hindi (Except Language Paper)
Negative Marking	No negative marking but Penalty Marking for various mistakes done by candidates
Marks Counted in Merit	Yes

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern 2023

Aspirants first need to clear the UPSC Prelims to move on to the UPSC Mains exam. To qualify for the main exam, candidates must meet the requirements for each paper. This stage of the exam determines their scores and rankings.

In the main exam, candidates are evaluated on their academic knowledge and their ability to express their understanding within the given time frame, as per the question’s demands. To pass the main exam, candidates must achieve a minimum passing score in each of the nine papers. The English and Indian Language papers are essential for qualification, while the remaining papers (GS-I, GS-II, GS-III, GS-IV, Essay paper, Optional Paper 1, and Paper 2) are graded for assessment.”

UPSC Mains Exam Pattern
UPSC Mains Paper	UPSC Mains Subject	UPSC Mains Syllabus	Marks
Paper I	Essay Writing	Candidates are required to write essays on multiple topics covering social, political, and economic issues	250
Paper II	General Studies I	Indian Heritage and Culture, History, Geography, and Society of India and the World	250
Paper III	General Studies II	Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations, and related topics	250
Paper IV	General Studies III	Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management	250
Paper V	General Studies IV	Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude	250
Paper VI	Optional Subject Paper I	Candidates have the option to choose one subject from the list of approved subjects	250
Paper VII	Optional Subject Paper II	Candidates have the option to choose one subject from the list of approved subjects	250
Qualifying Papers
Paper A	Indian Language (Qualifying Paper)	Candidates have the option to choose one subject from the list of approved subjects	300
Paper B	English (Qualifying Paper)	Candidates need to demonstrate proficiency in the English language	300
Sub Total			1750
Interview Marks			275
Grand Total			2025

UPSC Mains Syllabus 2023 Subject Wise

Apart from the Indian Language and English Papers, the merit is determined by the performance in the remaining papers of the Main examination. For a comprehensive overview of the UPSC Mains Syllabus, including General Studies and Essay papers, please refer to the full article given below:

UPSC Mains Language Paper Syllabus

In the UPSC Mains Exam, there are two language papers, Paper A and Paper B. Candidates are required to choose one language from the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, as shown in the table below. Additionally, English is the second language paper. It’s important to note that candidates must use the script corresponding to the language chosen from the table below. You have the option to select any of the Indian Languages listed in the table.

Let’s take a closer look at the structure of “Paper A” and “Paper B,” the language papers in the UPSC Mains Exam:

Essay – 100 marks
Reading Comprehension – 60 marks
Precis Writing – 60 marks
Translation:
English to Compulsory Language (e.g., Hindi) – 20 marks
Compulsory Language to English – 20 marks
Grammar and Usage of Basic Language – 40 marks.

UPSC Mains Language Paper Syllabus
Assamese Literature Syllabus	Marathi Literature Syllabus
Bodo Literature Syllabus	Odia Literature Syllabus
Bengali Literature Syllabus	Nepali Literature Syllabus
Dogri Literature Syllabus	Sanskrit Literature Syllabus
Gujarati Literature Syllabus	Punjabi Literature Syllabus
Hindi Literature Syllabus	Sindhi Literature Syllabus
Kashmiri Literature Syllabus	Santhali Literature Syllabus
Kannada Literature Syllabus	Tamil Literature Syllabus
Malayalam Literature Syllabus	Telugu Literature Syllabus
Konkani Literature Syllabus	English Literature Syllabus
Manipuri Literature Syllabus	Urdu Literature Syllabus
Maithili Literature Syllabus

UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies I

The first General Studies paper in the UPSC exam covers a wide range of topics related to History, Heritage, Geography, and Culture, both at the Indian and global levels. The key themes of the General Studies I syllabus include:

Indian Heritage and Culture: This section explores the significant aspects of ancient to modern Art Forms, Literature, and Architecture in India.
Modern Indian History: It encompasses major events, notable personalities, and key issues from the mid-18th century to the present day.
The Freedom Struggle: This section examines various stages, contributors, and contributions in India’s struggle for independence from different regions.
Post-Independence Consolidation and Reorganisation: Focuses on India’s efforts to shape and reorganize the nation after gaining independence.
World History: This section delves into global history from the 18th century, covering topics like the industrial revolution, world wars, colonialism, decolonization, and various political philosophies and their societal impacts.
Indian Society: This includes an understanding of the characteristics of Indian society, its diversity, the role of women, population dynamics, poverty, urbanization, globalization’s social effects, and more.
Communalism, Regionalism, Secularism, and Social Empowerment: Examines important societal and political aspects in India.
Physical Geography: Focuses on major geographical features worldwide, distribution of natural resources (including South Asia and the Indian subcontinent), and factors influencing the location of industries globally.
Geophysical Phenomena: Covers significant geophysical events like earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic activity, and cyclones, along with their impact.

UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies II

The UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies II paper covers a diverse range of topics related to Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, and International Relations. Here’s an overview of the detailed syllabus:

Indian Constitution: Understanding the structure, features, historical context, major provisions, and modifications of the Indian Constitution.
Federal System: Examining the functions, duties, challenges, and obstacles related to the federal system, as well as the devolution of authority and resources to local levels.
Separation of Powers: Analyzing the power distribution among different government organs, conflict resolution mechanisms, and key institutions.
Comparative Constitutional Systems: Comparing India’s constitutional design with systems in other countries.
Governmental Bodies: Understanding the structure, administration, powers, and challenges associated with Parliament, State Legislatures, Ministries, Departments, and Pressure Groups in the political landscape.
Executive and Judiciary: Exploring the structure, organization, and functioning of the Executive and Judiciary.
Election Laws: Key characteristics of the Representation of People’s Act.
Constitutional Bodies: Examining the appointment, roles, and responsibilities of various constitutional bodies.
Government Interventions: Analyzing statutory, regulatory, and quasi-judicial agencies, along with government interventions in development sectors and associated challenges.
Stakeholders in Development: Assessing the roles of NGOs, SHGs, groups, associations, funders, charities, and other stakeholders in development processes.
Welfare Programs: Understanding federal and state welfare programs for vulnerable groups, their effectiveness, and the organizations working to improve their lives.
Social Sector and Services: Issues related to the growth and administration of social sector services in health, education, and human resources.
Hunger and Poverty: Addressing issues related to hunger and poverty.
Governance Principles: Focusing on transparency, accountability, e-governance, citizens’ charters, and related institutional measures.
Civil Service: Examining the role of civil service in a democracy.
International Relations: Covering India’s relations with its neighbors, bilateral, regional, and international agreements, and the impact of global policies on India’s interests.
International Organizations: Understanding the objectives and composition of important international organizations, agencies, and forums.

UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies III

UPSC Mains General Studies III extensively covers Science, Technology, Economics, Defense, Disaster Management, and Nature. This paper addresses various aspects of life and recent developments in these domains.

The syllabus for this paper includes:

Indian Economy: Covering planning, resource mobilization, growth, development, and employment challenges.
Inclusive Growth: Examining its implications and challenges.
Government Budgeting: Understanding the budgetary process.
Agriculture: Major crops, cropping patterns, irrigation, storage, transport, marketing, and technology use.
Food Security: Buffer stocks, subsidies, minimum support prices, and the Public Distribution System.
Food Processing: Size, importance, supply chain management, and related sectors.
Land Reforms: Focusing on Indian land reforms.
Economic Liberalization: Implications, changes in industrial policy, and industrial sector expansion.
Infrastructure: Ports, roads, airports, railways, and investment models.
Science and Technology: Breakthroughs, their impact on daily life, and Indian contributions.
Technological Advancements: Indigenization, intellectual property rights, IT, space, computers, robotics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology.
Environmental Issues: Assessment, pollution, conservation, and degradation.
Disaster Management: Extremism, internal security threats, communication networks, cyber security, and money laundering.
Border Security: Managing security issues in border regions, organized crime, and terrorism.
Security Agencies: Roles and functions of various security agencies and organizations.

UPSC Mains Syllabus General Studies IV

The UPSC Mains exam includes a paper on Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. This paper assesses candidates’ attitudes and approaches regarding integrity, probity in public life, and their problem-solving abilities when dealing with various societal challenges and disputes. Case studies may be used to evaluate these elements.

The syllabus covers:

Ethics and Human Interaction: Understanding the purpose, factors, and outcomes of ethical behavior in personal and professional life. It explores the dimensions of ethics and emphasizes the role of family, community, and educational institutions in instilling values.
Attitude and its Aspects: Examining moral and political attitudes, social influence, persuasion, and their content, structure, function, and relationship to cognition and behavior.
Civil Service Principles: Core principles like honesty, objectivity, dedication to public service, empathy, tolerance, and compassion for marginalized groups.
Emotional Intelligence: Concepts, benefits, and their application in governance and administration.
Contributions from Moral Philosophers: Insights from moral philosophers and thinkers in India and globally.
Values and Ethics in Public Administration: Addressing the status, issues, and ethical considerations in public administration, international relations, corporate governance, laws, regulations, and ethical guidance sources. It also delves into accountability and ethical governance.
Probity in Governance: Covering public service, governance philosophy, transparency, the right to information, codes of ethics, citizen’s charters, workplace culture, service delivery effectiveness, public resource utilization, and corruption challenges.

The paper uses case studies to illustrate and assess these ethical and moral aspects.

UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF 2023

For a comprehensive resource on the UPSC Mains Exam syllabus, you can access the UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF. You can easily download it from the official website or using the direct link provided below. The PDF format allows candidates to access and refer to the syllabus conveniently at any time during their UPSC exam preparation. It covers various topics, including general studies, elective subjects, and qualification exams. You can download the UPSC IAS Mains Syllabus PDF in both Hindi and English languages from the provided link.

UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF

Importance of Optional Subjects

The UPSC mains examination consists of nine papers, out of which two are optional subjects. The optional subjects carry substantial weightage and play a pivotal role in determining an aspirant’s final rank. Scoring well in these subjects can significantly boost an individual’s chances of success. Additionally, selecting an optional subject that aligns with an aspirant’s strengths and interests can make the preparation process more engaging and enjoyable.

Factors to Consider When Choosing an Optional Subject

Interest and Aptitude: Opt for a subject that genuinely interests you and that you are passionate about. A genuine interest in the subject will help you stay motivated during the long hours of study and enable you to grasp the concepts more effectively.
Background and Academic Qualifications: Consider your educational background and academic qualifications when choosing an optional subject. A familiarity with the subject matter or prior knowledge can give you an advantage in understanding the concepts and preparing for the examination.
Availability of Study Material and Guidance: Adequate study material and guidance are crucial for effective preparation. Evaluate the availability of quality resources and coaching facilities for the subject you are considering. A lack of resources and guidance can make the preparation process arduous.
Scoring Potential: While it is essential to choose a subject you enjoy, it is equally important to assess its scoring potential. Look at the previous years’ trends, success rates, and average scores in different subjects to understand the subject’s relative scoring potential.
Synergy with General Studies: Consider how well your chosen optional subject complements the General Studies papers of the UPSC mains examination. There may be overlapping topics or concepts, which can provide an advantage during preparation and revision.

UPSC Mains Syllabus Most Popular Optional Subjects

While the choice of optional subjects should be based on individual interests and strengths, some subjects have traditionally been more popular among UPSC aspirants. Here are a few subjects that have been preferred by candidates:

History: History has been a popular choice among aspirants due to its interesting narrative style and the availability of extensive study material.
Geography: This subject appeals to candidates with an affinity for maps, diagrams, and an understanding of the physical and social aspects of the Earth.
Public Administration: Suitable for candidates with an interest in governance, administrative structures, and public policy.
Sociology: Sociology attracts candidates with an interest in social structures, social change, and sociological theories.
Literature: Literature as an optional subject offers candidates the opportunity to delve into the world of language, poetry, and literary analysis.

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UPSC Syllabus	UPSC Mains Strategy
IAS Full Form	UPSC Optional Subjects

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UPSC Mains Syllabus FAQs

The UPSC mains syllabus refers to the prescribed curriculum for the Main Examination conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) in India. It consists of nine papers, out of which seven papers are considered for ranking purposes. The papers include Essay, General Studies I, General Studies II, General Studies III, General Studies IV, Optional Paper I, and Optional Paper II.

In the UPSC Mains exam, there are 9 papers that candidates need to appear for Indian Language Paper, English Paper, Essay Paper, General Studies I, General Studies II, General Studies III, General Studies IV, Optional Paper I and Optional Paper II.

The UPSC CSE mains written exam carries a total of 1750 marks, while the Personality Test or Interview holds 275 marks. The final merit list is prepared by combining both sets of marks.

The UPSC Mains Syllabus covers a diverse range of subjects, including General Studies, optional subjects, and qualifying papers. In General Studies, candidates will encounter various topics such as Indian Heritage and Culture, History, Geography, Polity, Economy, Science and Technology, Environment, and Ethics.

Yes, the UPSC exam is renowned for its difficulty and is often regarded as one of the toughest exams in India and even globally. The success rate for this exam is relatively low. However, with dedication, hard work, and a well-thought-out preparation strategy, it is possible to crack the UPSC exam and achieve success.

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